Here is a list of reasons why I want to get back to Japan. These are really here to assist me with getting on a plane. Looking at goals and what awaits me in Japan can really help when finding strength to battle a fear of flying.
Photography: I can’t wait to get back to Japan to start taking more photos. Living in Japan during 2007 helped me fall in love with photography, so this is one of the main reasons I want to get back. Capturing images of people on the street, in their everyday surroundings is what grabs my interest. Being a “gaijin” also helps as it is expected that we will be merrily shooting away. They don’t run in fear when a camera is pointed in their direction too which is refreshing.
Culture: Every breath you take in a foreign country fills your senses with sights, sounds, smells, tastes and Japan really hits these senses. Even though I speak some Japanese, just letting the sound of another language wash over you is refreshing. You find that you don’t tune in so much to what is being said around you, and this allows you to relax I find. Watching kids walk themselves to and from school is wonderful and you can’t help feeling the sense of safety. It is actually tangible. The fresh foods, from breads, fish, meats and noodles, all of which are tasty, feel known and natural yet new, strange and interesting.
Fashion: The style of clothing that Japanese people wear amazes me. From the ultra traditional, beautiful Kimono & Yukata to the maid costumes. The Elvis jackets and jeans to the Cosplay. The business men and women to the super sexy. It’s all here. The quality can be seen too. I still have clothes (mainly underwear) that I bought five years ago and they still appear brand new. I can’t help getting a little freaked out in summer when it is humid how the men still appear comfortable in suit jackets when I look like I climbed out of a pool fully clothed.
Transport: I love the efficiency of the Japanese people, and their huge networks of public transport display this to the world. The Shinkansen (bullet train) is my favourite. I really look forward to sitting on a train from Himeji to Tokyo again. The speed and smoothness is fascinating and I adore how the Japanese refuse to upset other commuters with cell phones. No yelling and screaming. I LOVE IT.
Riding my bike: Sounds strange. But I loved riding to and from work, or at least the train station every day. It is a great way to stay in shape, or in my case lose a few kilograms and it is also fun. Everyone does it.
Shopping: Supermarkets are a great way to see culture on display and the cooking habits of the people who frequent the stores. I was amazed how much meat, especially chicken was consumed in Japan. I had the feeling before I went to Japan for the first time, that they almost always ate fish, at least once a day. It is just not the case. The electronic stores are a real treat. Floor after floor of cool gadgets, cameras, computers, toys, ANYTHING. And just like most shops in Japan, you have loyalty cards where you earn around 10-20% on each purchase. I bought a video camera in Japan last time (That camera is still worth more in Australia 5 years later than it was the day I bought it in Japan) and I got around $500 Aussie dollars in store credit. Its awesome. I picked myself up a new iPod Touch (they were new then) and some spare hard drives.
Students: As I will be a teacher in Japan, I am really looking forward to the relationships you make with the students. They are super friendly and love it when you speak even a word of Japanese. They don’t want to engage in English, they want to talk to you if they think you can speak a word. They follow you around, act up around you and just do crazy things. To this day, I still have pen friends (previous students) who write to me. I also have a great memory of three students who had also gone to Osaka to do clothes shopping in Osaka. They saw me looking for jeans, came running over and gave me their brutal opinions. They then helped me shop for jeans, shirts and a new belt for the next few hours and we had a great time together. I also enjoyed sharing lunch times with the students as they would all eat together in class rooms.
Sight Seeing: Of course, this is a huge one. Every weekend I would go somewhere when I was in Japan last time, and I hope to do the same next time. Contrary to Aussie beliefs, Japan is extremely cheap. From transport, food and hotels, is is a fraction of the costs here and with a higher quality of service. So travelling is easy and affordable. The sights are amazing. You can be in a completely different area (city, town, outdoors location) easily via the provided transport. With Japan having the largest metropolitan area in the world (Tokyo) and where the country is over 80% forested and mountainous, it is easy to find yourself in a completely different environment.
Music: As listed in an earlier post, I love いきものがかり (Ikimonogakari). This band consistently has hit after hit. I am not talking about pop music here but band music. Japanese bands actually have lyrics (none of this “baby, baby, baby OHHHH, yeah baby, baby, baby Yeahhhh.” lyric rubbish). So it is refreshing to hear real melodies and lyrics. I also had an opportunity last time to hear the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra so I can hear the traditional, the pop and the classical. So, I am surrounded by fine music.
Study: I love the Japanese language, and this opportunity will allow me to engage with native speakers. I will enrol in classes and the emersion (everyday life, work environment etc…) will allow me to boost my skills considerably.
New Friendships and Old: I really look forward to seeing Lauren again. We had a blast with her in 2007 and she has been there since. I can’t wait to eat her wonderful chicken satays again and to offer her some of my cooking in return (poor girl). There will be a whole bunch of new people at our apartment, and it will be interesting to hear their tales of Japanese life as well.
Work: I have taken this opportunity to live and work in Japan, so now I actually need it to get by economically. The Himeji Board of Education pay for my housing, travel expenses (to and from work) and medical expenses, so it is an amazing opportunity I should not let go of. Last time, after traveling each weekend, eating out, buying new gadgets etc, we were still able to come home with savings. This time, I have a better salary as the position is different so I hope I can really start to pay off my house in Adelaide.
I will add more to this list as time goes on, but it is around 3:20am here on Christmas day, and I should get some sleep.
I LOVE JAPAN! I will FLY! It will enable to me experience this wonderful land again!
(excuse the writing. it is late and i am not going to proof read. i just wanted to get these thoughts out.)
